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Tag: Merry

Here are a couple of tricks to spice up your Christmas or New Year get-togethers.

Just a quick FYI: all drinks featured in this video are completely virgin, not a single spec of alcohol. So these are safe for kids during your holiday festivities.

TIPS:
Freshen up your cheese platters with gourmet crackers and cheeses.
~ The good gourmet crackers can be found in the deli section at the grocery store or at a gourmet shop.
~ Deli cheese that I would recommend are double or triple cream Brie cheese (single cream is almost a liquid), plain or flavoured goat cheese, Camembert, or anything smoked or featured at the deli or gourmet shop.
*Be sure to try a sample if can, so you can make sure it’s a good choice before purchase, staff are usually quite accommodating.
~ Toppers for your cheese can be any combination of the following:
nuts (pecans, walnuts, almonds, pistachio, etc);
fresh or dehydrated fruits or even the pie fillings (cranberry, apricot, pitted dates, orange, tangerine, clementine, apple, pear, pomegranate, figs, etc);
herbs (parsley, cilantro, cayenne, chili, etc);
jellies, like roasted red pepper;
honey;
maple syrup;
etc.

Toppings or additives to your hot beverage (like coffee, hot chocolate, some teas):
powdered candy cane (can also be mixed into bakery mix before cooking or into or onto frosting)
cinnamon
whipped cream
shaved chocolate
cocoa powder (or just a sprinkle of hot cocoa mix as a cheaper alternative)
etc.

Using most of the decor already on my tree and making some ornaments to match, I’m going to give it a much needed makeover. Here’s what you’ll need:

WAL-MART:
*Krylon Aerosol Spray Paint in Brilliant Silver (or another metallic of your choice)
*Elmers Spray Adhesive
*Elmers Glitter in desired colour (I only saw gold and silver, you may have to go to Michael’s or a craft store for other colours) *This is if you find ornaments that need a make-over using these items

DOLLAR STORE:
Rubber Gloves
Cheap Christmas Ornaments (I pick up some small apples and pears that already had tassels on them at a craft surplus, so pick something all ready for you or that you can update with spray paint and/or glitter)

RUMMAGE:
Newspaper or Flyers (if you don’t have any you can take them from your neighbour’s recycling bins when they’re being collected)
Cardboard Box

I hope you have fun. I would love to hear back from you and hear how your project(s) turned out, feel free to video reply or leave any requests, comments, suggestions, questions, etc in the comment section below. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Want to make your own wreath or have one kicking around that needs an update?

This project is easy and affordable for those on a budget. Here’s what you’re going to need:

WAL-MART:
Krylon Aerosol Spray Paint in Brilliant Silver & Brilliant Gold (or another metallic or your choice)
Elmers Spray Adhesive
Elmers Glitter in desired colour (I only saw gold and silver, you may have to go to Michael’s or a craft store for other colours)
Garland
Wreath (Styrofoam for inside or between front door and screen door; wire for outside, because it will be exposed to the elements)
OPTIONAL: Grapevine (Give more shape for wire-framed wreath, otherwise you’re buying more garland)
OPTIONAL: Buy Two sets of Christmas lights in desired colour(s) matching the garland you’re using. (You can also buy them used, but colours may be limited)

DOLLAR STORE:
Rubber Gloves
Craft wire (usually green covered)
Decor or Ornaments (I used 2 packs of small disco balls, two 3-D Stars, and Silver Chain)
~ If you cannot find decor in desired colour, grab the ones that have desired shape and spray with metallic and/or spray with adhesive then add glitter

THRIFT:
Used Christmas Lights (be sure to test them to make sure they work before leaving the store)

RUMMAGE:
Newspaper or Flyers (if you don’t have any you can take them from your neighbour’s recycling bins when they’re being collected)
Cardboard Box
Scissors

I hope you have fun. I would love to hear back from you and hear how your project(s) turned out, feel free to video reply or leave any requests, comments, suggestions, questions, etc in the comment section below. Merry Christmas!

This is a really easy DIY home decor and here’s what you’re going to need . . .

WAL-MART:
Elmers Spray Adhesive
OPTIONAL: Krylon Aerosol Spray Paint in Brilliant Silver & Brilliant Gold (or another metallic or your choice)
OPTIONAL: Elmers Glitter in desired colour (I only saw gold and silver, you may have to go to Michael’s or a craft store for other colours)
Epson Salt (unless you already have some at home, whatever you don’t use for the craft you can use to treat yourself to a bath afterwards)

DOLLAR STORE:
Large Vase
Medium or Large Paint Brush (1 from painting section, not crafts)
Decor or Ornaments (I used 1 pack each of large and small disco balls and two fake flowers with sparkly silver ‘berries’ that I ended up plucking off and mixing all together.
~ If you cannot find decor in desired colour, grab the ones that have desired shape and spray with metallic and/or spray with adhesive to add glitter
Rubber Gloves
Painter’s tape (smaller the better, less cutting involved)

RUMMAGE:
Newspaper or Flyers (if you don’t have any you can take them from your neighbour’s recycling bins when they’re being collected)
Cardboard Box
Scissors

I hope you have fun. I would love to hear back from you and hear how your project(s) turned out, feel free to video reply or leave any requests, comments, suggestions, questions, etc in the comment section below. Merry Christmas!

Here are the items you will need, most of which can be purchase at the dollar store:
DOLLAR STORE:
Seasonal Planter (for spring)
1 package of Large Christmas Ornaments (3 large bulbs will do)
1 package of Small Christmas Ornaments (4 used in this tutorial)
*Optional: Small pack of 40 lights
*Optional: Craft Paint Palette
Craft Acrylic Paint in Black
Small pack of Glue Sticks (unless you buy bigger bag at Wal-mart with glue gun)
Painter’s Drop Cloth
Rubber Gloves
Steel Wool
Kabob Skewers

RUMMAGE (that means go find it in your house or out in nature somewhere):
Small box
Newspapers or Flyers (or you can steal them from your neighbours recycling, lol)
Pine Cones (you can purchase the cinnamon oil scented ones at Wal-mart)
Greenery (Christmas theme: pine of your choice, or cedar)
Large Tupperware container
Water

Most of this can be purchase at your local dollar store, a popular shopping venue in North America for all those of you viewing from around the world. Since you may not have such discount stores I would suggest either rummaging up some old decor or shop at a second-hand shop or flee market for used goodies and then pick up on the Christmas sales at places like Kroger for the next year.

Purchase:
*Decorative plate (long rectangle works best)
*Candle holders (cup shaped, enough to fit on your plate with some room to spare)
*Candles or tea lights & Lighter or matches (unless you already have some)
*Small decorative ornaments or decor that will fit on plate
*Krylon Brilliant Metallic Indoor Aerosol Can (silver, gold, or a colour that will go with the rest of your Christmas decor) [usually $5 a can]

Purchase or Find in nature:
*Pine cones (if you are following last week, you may have some left over) [some can be purchase at Michael’s Craftstore and most usually have been scented with cinnamon, yum]
*Moss or Christmas tree-like Pine (you will need to keep watered or replace when dried out)
*Artificial cranberries or other small fruit
*Coffee beans (yum!)

Rummage:
*Cardboard box and/or newsprint, opened cereal box, etc (this is where recycling comes in handy)
*Cutlery knife (to scrape the paper sticker off your purchase decor that couldn’t peel off)
*Nail polish remover, Goo-Gone or Purell hand sanitizer (all will work to get rid of any glue adhesive left over from stickers pulled off your decor)